Decorative lamp socket



March 15, 1932. R. s. M NEIL DECORATIVE LAMP SOCKET Filed Nov. 50, 1928 KIA IF mm n .UC r a m m v5 a B H Patented Mar. 15, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RODERICK B. MCNEIL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION 01! NEW YORK DECORATIVE LAMP SOCKET Application filed November 80, 1928. Serial No. 322,852.

The present invention relates to electric lighting, and more especially to decorative sockets for supporting and connecting in circuit incandescent lamps.

'5 The object of my invention is the provision of an incandescent lamp socket which may be connected with facility, either in multiple or series, toflexible electric conductors, which shall withstand rough usage and which may be economically manufactured.

Two embodlments of my invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a festoon socket series connected to the flexibleconductors. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cap and body portions of the socket detached; Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof; Flg. 4 is a perspective view of a decorative socket for table use; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectlon thereof,

and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the body portion of the socket.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the body portion of the socket comprises a'metal screw shell contact 1 of usual construction having an inturned flange 2 extending part way within the upper end and enclosed in cylinder 3 of molded condensation product or other insulatin material which projects somewhat below t e lower edge of the screw shell contact, and in the upper end of which are provided two transverse grooves 4 for the reception of flexible conductors 6. A rivet 7 passes through the metal flange2 and through the insulating material into one of the grooves 4 where it is provided with a contact spur 8 ada ted to make electrical connection with a flexible conductor 6uponits impalement thereon. A second spurred rivet 9 disposed in the other groove 4 serves to connect a spring center contact 10 within the socket and make electrical connection between it and a flexible conductor 6:

The upper end of the body portion is provided withan annular rebate 11 and a screw thread 12 for the reception of a cap, member 13 of molded insulation and with acorrespondingly internallythreaded flange 14 which is made somewhat less in extent than the threaded rebate 11 of the body portion, so that tion provided with lamp-engaging contacts upon connecting the socket to the flexible conductors the inner flat surface 15 of the ca Wlll engage the conductors and effect then complete impalement upon the contact spurs 8 and 9 as the cap 13 is screwed home on the body portion. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lower edge of the cap flange 14 cooperates with the surface of the rebate 11 to compress and clamp the flexible conductors 6 as they emerge from the socket whereby they are caused to expand sidewise to close the outer ends of the grooves 4 against the entrance of moisture and also whereby the connection between the contact spurs 8 and 9 and the flexible conductors is relieved of strains such as would tend to loosen and destroy eflicient contact engagement and the possible detachment of the wires from the socket.

In order to lock the cap 13 against chance unscrewing from the body portion 3, a set screw 16 is provided which passes axially through the cap and engages a threaded nut or eyelet 17 anchored in the body portion.

The decorative table socket construction of Figs. 4 to 6 is intended for use in a position reverse from that in which the other constructio'n is to be used. The body portion 18 is provided with a single transverse groove 19 into which both contact spurs 20 and 21 extend. The cap 22 is provided with an enlarged base flange 23 designed to serve as a pedestal, and in order to house the connection between the parts and to improve the esthetic appearance of the device, a stepped canopy 24 is provided which fits at its center about the body portion 18 and rests at its lower edge upon the upper surface of the base 23. Notches 25 are provided in the lower edge of the canopy for the passage of the flexible conductors. I

While I have shown and described the best embodiments of the invention known to me, I do not desire to be restricted thereto.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A lamp socket comprising a body porat one end and at the other end with transverse grooves and a peripheral thread, spurs for impalement of line wires disposed in said grooves and respectively connected to said contacts, and a cap portion having an inner flat surface to press the line wires upon said spurs and a crown flan e internally threaded to engage the thread the body portion and 5 to (grip the line wires between its outer edge an the bottoms of said grooves whereby to relieve the connection between spurs and line wires of any stress applied to said wires. 2. A lamp socket comprising a body portion provided with lamp-engaging contacts at one end and at the other end with transverse grooves and a peripheral thread spurs for impalement of line w1res disposed 1n said grooves and respectively connected to said contacts, a cap portion having an inner surface to press the line wires upon said s urs and a crown flange internally threade to engage the thread of the body portion and to grip the line wires between its outer edge and the bottoms of said grooves, and means for locking said cap portlon against unscrewing. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th da of November, 1928. ROD RICK S. MoNEIL. 

